The staff for Pokémon Unite announced a live‑action short project to commemorate the game’s fifth anniversary. The Japanese version of the game’s website posted the announcement, while the English version did not mention the project. Pokémon Unite, the franchise’s first strategic team‑based battle game, launched on Nintendo Switch on July 21, 2021 and on iOS and Android devices on September 22, 2021, supporting 5‑on‑5 real‑time matches with cross‑platform play. The game will add Legendary Pokémon Yveltal, Palkia, Reshiram and Solgaleo over the next two months as part of anniversary updates. Developed by Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group in collaboration with The Pokémon Company, the free‑to‑start title includes in‑app purchases. The staff said additional details about the short’s story and other aspects will be released later.
Art, books, film, gaming, and the conversations defining the week.
Yōhei Kameyama, a Japanese creator who serves as character designer, 3D modeler, animator and director, discussed his short‑form anime Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express during an interview in Tokyo on June 27, 2026. The series, which has accumulated millions of views on YouTube and was released in theaters earlier this year, continues the story of characters Chiharu and Makina.
Kameyama first created Milky☆Highway as his graduation project while attending a vocational school in Japan. Inspired by the integration of music and animation in Disney's Steamboat Willie, he designed the visuals himself and coordinated music composition to link the two elements.
He described designing characters with striking appearances to create an immediate impression, using 3D models to emphasize texture differences, such as the metal surface of Makina's face. Dialogue was intended to sound natural, drawing from observations of Hollywood film speech patterns.
The transition from the twelve‑episode short series to a feature film required adjustments to pacing. Kameyama added transitional clips featuring police officers Ryoko and Asami and inserted landscape shots to bridge gaps where credits would normally appear.
Kameyama handled character design, animation, dialogue, screenplay and direction for Milky☆Subway, while delegating specific tasks such as small‑prop modeling and lighting to other artists. He noted that a clear schedule and regular meetings helped manage the workload.
Kameyama expressed interest in producing additional episodes, continuing the Chiharu and Makina storyline, and developing spin‑offs focusing on supporting characters like Akane. He said he now needs to establish a production environment that allows collaboration, as he cannot undertake all aspects of future projects alone. He also mentioned that the three‑and‑a‑half‑minute episode length suits short‑form viewing habits and that he plans to continue using this format while aiming to create a properly structured theatrical film.
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition is now available for Nintendo Switch 2, offering 4K resolution in TV mode, full‑HD in handheld mode, and a stable 60 fps frame rate. The update adds Ether Jet vehicles, related races, new outfits, and the Future Connected DLC, which extends the main story by roughly 40 hours.
The game follows Shulk, an engineer who wields the Monado, a sword that grants visions of the future, as he battles the mechanical forces of the Mechon across a world built on two colossal titans. The narrative examines themes of destiny and choice.
Technical improvements include sharper textures and smoother cutscenes, though occasional clipping of models and frame drops have been reported in densely detailed areas such as Satorl Marsh and Nopon Village. The camera may tilt upward when targeting flying or tall enemies, requiring manual adjustment.
The English voice cast, featuring Adam Howden and Jenna Coleman, remains in the main story, with additional voice work added for Heart‑to‑Heart scenes in the DLC. Reviewers assigned an A to graphics, an A+ to sound and music, an A overall, and an A‑ to gameplay, noting that the 60 fps target is not flawless and that the added Ether Jet mechanic alters the intended pacing of exploration.
Critics have observed that the extensive content and real‑time combat system, which incorporates timed prompts and aggro management, remain engaging, while some players may find the added vehicle options and numerous side activities diverge from the original design intent. The Switch 2 edition integrates the enhancements with the existing DLC, and the game continues to be available for purchase.
Akihiro Miwa, a Japanese singer, actor and voice performer, died on June 20 at the age of 91, according to his agency.
Akihiro Miwa, a Japanese singer, actor and voice performer, died on June 20 at the age of 91, according to his agency.
Born in 1935 in Nagasaki, Miwa survived the 1945 atomic bombing and later moved to Tokyo, where he began a professional singing career at 16, performing in genres including classical, chanson, tango, Latin and jazz.
He was best known for voicing the Witch of the Waste in Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle and Moro in Princess Mononoke, as well as roles as Arceus in Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Froy in Harmagedon, and the Queen of the Night in Maeterlinck's Blue Bird. He also appeared in Takeshi Kitano's 2005 film Takeshis' and performed on stage in Yukio Mishima's Black Lizard play.
Miwa wrote several books, including Shiawase no Oban Furumai, and was named an honorary citizen of Tokyo in 2018 for his contributions to stage, film, television, lectures and writing.
His agency said he reduced his activities in the year before his death due to declining health and convalesced at home; his funeral was held privately and decorated with yellow roses that he loved.
Miwa's work in animation and music remains influential in Japan and abroad.
The official website for Sunrise's MAO anime announced a new promotional video on Sunday, revealing that Reina Ueda will perform the ending theme song "Tayutau" and previewing the new opening song "Bokura ga Uwagaki suru Sekai" by the idol group 20th Century. The second part of the series is scheduled to begin with episode 14 on July 4.
MAO is an adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's manga, which follows Nanaka as she travels back to a supernatural early 20th Century and teams with exorcist MAO. The story combines time travel, exorcism, and demon battles across multiple eras.
Cast members include Yūki Kaji as MAO, Natsumi Kawaida as Nanaka Kiba, Hiro Shimono as Hyakka, Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kamon, Momoka Terasawa as Otoya, Kazuyuki Okitsu as Shiranui, Motoko Kumai as FUNA Uozumi, Yōko Hikasa as Tenko, Risa Shimizu as Sana, Reina Ueda as Yurako, and Takashi Matsuyama as Byōki. Staff members include director Teruo Sato, series script supervisor Yūko Kakihara, character designer and chief animation director Yoshihito Hishinuma, art directors Hiroshi Katō and Izumi Hoki, color key artist Masumi Ōtsuka, CG director Tomohiro Fujie, compositing director of photography Akane Fushihara, editor Kazuhiro Nii, sound director Hiromi Kikuta, and composer Shū Kanematsu. Music is provided by Shū Kanematsu, with the opening theme "HEARTLOUD" performed by Kis-My-Ft2 and the ending theme "Juai" performed by TRUE. The anime debuted on April 4 on NHK-General at 11:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m. EST) and streams on Hulu in the United States and Disney+ in Canada, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand. The manga began serialization in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday in May 2019, and the 29th compiled volume was released on June 18. Viz Media has published the series in English since 2021.
The new songs and promotional video precede the continuation of the supernatural adventure in the series' second part, which will run for two consecutive cours without interruption.
The staff of the television anime Daemons of the Shadow Realm announced a new promotional video and revealed the artists performing the theme songs for the series’ second half, which will begin on July 4.
The anime, based on Hiromu Arakawa’s manga, premiered on April 4 on Tokyo MX and several other Japanese networks and is streamed internationally by Crunchyroll with an English dub.
Masanori Otoda performs the opening song titled “back shot,” while Kei Sugawara sings the ending theme “Kujaku.” The cast includes Kenshō Ono as Yuru, Yume Miyamoto as Asa, Yūichi Nakamura as Dera, Misaki Kuno as Gabu‑chan, Takako Honda as “Left,” Rikiya Koyama as “Right,” Miyuri Shimabukuro as Hana, Junichi Suwabe as Jin, Akira Ishida as Asuma Kagemori, Shinichirō Miki as Ivan Yosano, Kappei Yamaguchi as Hikaru Kagemori, Yoshiko Sakakibara as Kai, and Masahiro Andō directs the series at Bones Film. Noboru Takagi oversees the scripts, and Nobuhiro Arai designs the characters and serves as chief animation director. Kenichiro Suehiro composes the music.
Square Enix Manga & Books will release the 13th compiled volume of the manga in English on July 10.
Kill Blue anime staff announced that the series will receive a second season following the conclusion of the first season on Saturday. The first season premiered on April 11 on multiple Japanese television stations and began streaming the same day. The anime is produced by CUE, a studio founded by DMM in 2023, with Rui Kuroki serving as president and CEO. Director Hiro Kaburagi, who previously worked on Great Pretender, Hozuki's Coolheadedness, and My Little Monster, directed the first season. Miho Daidōji, an animation director for Kuroko's Basketball and Last Game, handled character design. The opening theme song "ATTITUDE" was performed by the South Korean girl group aespa, and the ending theme "KILL SHOT" was performed by the South Korean boy band RIIZE. The manga, written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from April 2023 to September 2023 and concluded with its 13th volume released on December 4. Viz Media publishes the manga in English, having released the sixth volume in print on April 7 and planning to release the seventh volume on August 11. A novel adaptation titled Kill Blue Secret Report by Kiyoko Hoshi was also released on December 4. The second season has not yet been scheduled, and no release date has been announced.
Toei Animation unveiled a preview of its 2D-3D hybrid film Monkey Quest at the Annecy Festival in France on June 26, 2024, announcing a 2027 release. The project was first announced in February 2024 as a computer-generated film titled Hypergalactic. It is based loosely on the Chinese classic Journey to the West and follows 12-year-old Ellie and her one-year-old brother Adam as they liberate the protector Okon and confront the antagonist Vex in an intergalactic adventure. The cast includes Adam Devine as Okon, Elsie Fisher as Ellie, and J.K. Simmons as Vex. The film is a joint Japan-U.S. production with an international crew; Naoto Oshima co-created the concept with Joseph Chou, while David N. Weiss wrote the script and co-directed with Stephanie Ma Stine and Takao Noguchi. Yoshi Ikezawa is the producer, and Sunghoo Park assisted with storyboards and action sequences. The film is currently in post-production, and Charades will distribute it worldwide. In November 2024, Toei partnered with Spaceport Technologies and Twin Atlas to launch a Roblox game titled Hypergalactic: Monkey Quest, which will serve as a hub for a connected universe of games, and the studio previously collaborated with Spaceport Technologies on a Fortnite partnership. The film aims to debut in 2027, though the exact release date has not been specified.